Cruel Intentions

20 years later, you can see the charm that made Witherspoon a star, appreciate Blair's comedic splendor, and recognize that Phillippe was handsome and is also in this movie.

Cruel Intentions is a stretch for all concerned, including the targeted audience, one that pays off handsomely--and works for older moviegoers as well.

At this infantile level of appraisal, I suspect that Ms. Gellar and Mr. Phillippe may have a harder time next summer than last.

Our fascination with this tale has always derived from its cool portrayal of utter amorality, which Kumble and his cast nicely energize with their heedless, youthful intensity.

The misbegotten Cruel Intentions serves up great glittering gobs of cheap, without the thrills.

It's easy to see why the director thought his Cliff Notes approach to literature would work.

Though it’s utterly devoid of upright morals and wholesome characters, there’s something amusing about how dastardly and conniving the two leads can be.

The result is not completely satisfactory, but it entraps you with its temerity to see just how far it will go. [Full review in Spanish]

A slick and rancid update of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, not nearly trashy enough to be more than mildly amusing.

A black comedy of manners (or romantic comedy/drama) relocated from 1780s France to 1990s USA, directed by Roger Kumble.